Fungi of Temperate Europe: Volume 1+2

Product Information

Fortunately, there is an index to genera on the front boards and an abbreviated glossary at the back. This is an international publication, so there are no English names; and only the latest up-to-the-minute scientific names, although in many cases the authors mention the previous, more familiar, name. Steve Trudell, Mycophile "With its unprecedentedly broad taxonomic coverage, Fungi of Temperate Europe aims to provide a comprehensive overview of fungal species in Europe. The second, which takes us to 1,715 pages, includes all the rest: brackets, puffballs, jelly fungi, coral fungi, hydnoids, cup fungi and truffles, with a nod at rusts and smuts, mildews, lichens and slime moulds (and, yes, the authors are well aware that the latter are not fungi).

First published in Denmark with the title, Nordeuropas Svampe, this is a detailed identification guide to "more or less the whole fungal kingdom. Many thousands of colour photographs throughout, some colour diagrams, a very few b/w line illustrations, 14-page bibliography. The books are divided into 80 “form groups” each starting with an innovative comparison wheel with guiding photos, distinguishing characteristics and drawings of essential microscopic features.All species are illustrated with one or more photographs and information on morphology, ecology and distribution within temperate Europe is given. For temperate Europe we estimate that the total number of species is higher than 20,000 and the number of fruitbody-forming fungi is at least 6,000 - 9,000 (including about 2,000 species of lichens). It is a splendid example [ sic] how to present the multitude of forms in a way that makes identification possible and fun, while at the same time showing the beauty and diversity of fungi. They provide expert and detailed descriptions, disclose all significant defects and/or restorations, provide clear and accurate pricing, and operate with fairness and honesty during the purchase experience.

The authors are to be congratulated on this truly remarkable achievement, making their many years of practical experience in macrofungal identification available to mycologists at large. This is a really practical book that will be a boon to field mycologists, especially in temperate regions. Not only for people in Europe is this the best guidebook to get, it also is extremely useful for people in other parts of the world. Although the authors do their level best to make the subject accessible – jargon is minimal – the book will be most useful to those with some previous experience of identifying fungi. It is a splendid example [sic] how to present the multitude of forms in a way that makes identification possible and fun, while at the same time showing the beauty and diversity of fungi.It contains brief descriptions, up-to-date taxonomic names, and keys to identification based on innovative “fungal wheels. Fungi of Temperate Europe covers a large area, from the Arctic to the fringes of the Alps, including the whole of Scandinavia, the Baltic States, and lowland central Europe, along with the Atlantic fringe from northern Spain to Britain and Ireland. The books are divided into eighty “form groups,” each starting with an innovative comparison wheel with guiding photos, distinguishing characteristics and drawings of essential microscopic features. It, in turn, is based on a method devised by the authors and their colleagues, available online as the MycoKey. The books are divided into eighty 'form groups', each starting with an innovative comparison wheel with guiding photos, distinguishing characteristics and drawings of essential microscopic features.

Revealing the world of fungi in all its splendour, Fungi of Temperate Europe is a must-have resource for any amateur or professional mycologist. There has been quite a run of mushroom books lately, each outdoing the last in terms of the quality of the illustrations, but this one simply takes your breath away.Irmgard Krisai-Greilhuber, Osterreiche Zeitschrift fuer Mykologie "[A]nyone who has an interest in mushrooms should own this . It is very useful both for professionals and for everyone interested in this fascinating group of organisms. The books are divided into 80 "form groups" each starting with an innovative comparison wheel with guiding photos, distinguishing characteristics and drawings of essential microscopic features.